Cosmopolitanism and People Essay

The Internet is playing a very important role in the evolution of digital technology, but although it has seen remarkable growth over the last few years, its dispersion remains highly asymmetric. It is widely believed that the so called information age will bring radical change and improvement, and countries all over the world are busy with constructing the necessary infrastructure, the â€Å"information superhighways,† in order to meet the challenges of the information society of the twenty-first century. Kwame Anthony Appiah’s essay â€Å"Making Conversation† tell us about human’s conversation is better expressing themselves in person. Marshall Poe said in his article â€Å"The Hive† talks about the evolution of Wikipedia and how people are interacting online. The internet serves a purpose for research, schoolwork, and connections. However, the result from the internet age is loosing communication,lack of social interaction, and the unreliable nat ure of websites. First, Communication is key with success, however because of the internet age the ability to communicate face to face is dwindling.â€Å"Making Conversation† by Appiah is an idea on the expression cosmopolitanism and the feeling people in any nation have to take in order to achieve cosmopolitanism and globalization. Appiah wants to be citizen in the world not to separate by culture because people can learn each other different culture from other countries. Appiah said â€Å"One is the idea that we have obligations to others, obligations to others, obligations that stretch beyond those to whom we are related by the ties of kith and kind, or even the more formal ties of shared citizenship. The other is that we take seriously the value not just of human life but of particular human lives, which means taking an interest in the practices and beliefs that lend them significance† (Appiah 69). People learn from other cultures, with communication and with having an open mind. If People are closed off to new ideas from other cultures and we we will never grow. Communication is the  most important one topic because people communicate no matter what we need communication to express ourselves to others. Appiah said it is more important to communicate one another in person instead of using other networks. The conversation is the first important step to understand others. People of other cultures will then learn to accept the beliefs of others and by â€Å"changing our minds†, Appiah makes it clear that conversing with people does not often begin with agreeing on a set of principles, but rather exchanging our ideas and learning from another one. Eventhough, the internet can be helpful with education, it can also be unreliable. However, â€Å"The Hive† by Marchall Poe, was the openness of Wikipedia. Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia that anyone can use it. This might work for some people specially that ones who attend school or college. This is very helpful for them because in Wikipedia you can search or find anything you would like. Since anyone can write, or delete or use information off of Wikipedia, it makes it less controversial because anyone can put their input into the website. If don’t agree with something, that’s alright because you can add your own opinion. Poe describes how authors of certain wiki pages write with a bias to support their facts. Facts become opinions when feelings and emotions of bias get involved. â€Å"Instead of relying on experts to write articles according to their expertise, Wikipedia lets anyone write about anything† (Poe 349). It means people are free to write whatever they want and they feel so others could see and write their opinions. This concept is important because it allows the author to give a good explanation on why this kind of group could work well with society. Wikipedia was created to help with learning. This is important because the people behind Wikipedia want us to learn more and to have better knowledge. The whole idea of Wikipedia is so people can post whatever they want and when they want. Every single day people are posting and reading others comments and having opinions. Wikipedia is so successful. Lastly, when working on a research project, using these websites can add some quick insight at hand. â€Å"The cathedral â€Å"and â€Å"The Bazaar† are the biggest difference between Nupedia and Wikipedia is how the information is edited. With Nupedia, people who would submit articles would have to wait for it to be published because it what is reviewed by editors. The process took loads of  time. People behind Wikipedia, can post something and it is reviewed by a never ending amount of people and therefore because of the sites popularity, posts can easily be weeded out. Nupedia was designed to be more professional and they tried to find knowledgeable scholars to oversee the site, and all the entries would be written by experts and those pieces would be read and revised by another group of scholars. Wikipedia is for anyone who wishes to add an article for something they specialize in. It could be something as simple as a definition or a more extensive article. They are posted and then other readers can edit the pieces if they discover incorrect information. This difference helps us understand why Poe named his subheadings the Cathedral and the Bazaar. A cathedral is very organized and has very district, intelligent leaders who oversee the operations. â€Å"There was simply no question in his mind that Nupedia would be Guided by a board of experts, that submissions would be largely written by experts, and that articles would be published only after extensive peer review† (353) This means only post that are actually true would be seen by an editor and be publish. Nupedia has very neat guidelines, and is overseen by professionals. A Bazaar, is much more casual and is usually a market that contains a large variety of items. Wikipedia has very few guidelines and has lots of types of information on millions of subjects. In summary, the result from the internet age is loosing communication,lack of social interaction, and the unreliable nature of websites. Wikipedia is helping the humanity to express their feeling and be seem by others and have opinions. Nupedia is seemed by experts where they can see if it’s true or not to be published. The information has to have credibility to be valid without sacrificing human interaction. Anthony Appiah. â€Å"Making Conversation. The Primacy of Practice.† Emerging: Contemporary Readings for Writers. Ed. Barclay Barrios, Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2010. 66-82 Print. Poe, Marshall. â€Å"The Hive†. Emerging: Contemporary Readings for Writers. Ed. Barclay Barrios, Boston, MA: Bedford/ St. Martins, 2010. 349-363. Print.

Foundation and Empire Prologue

The Galactic Empire Was Falling. It was a colossal Empire, stretching across millions of worlds from arm-end to arm-end of the mighty multi-spiral that was the Milky Way. Its fall was colossal, too – and a long one, for it had a long way to go. It had been falling for centuries before one man became really aware of that fall. That man was Hari Seldon, the man who represented the one spark of creative effort left among the gathering decay. He developed and brought to its highest pitch the science of psychohistory. Psychohistory dealt not with man, but with man-masses. It was the science of mobs; mobs in their billions. It could forecast reactions to stimuli with something of the accuracy that a lesser science could bring to the forecast of a rebound of a billiard ball. The reaction of one man could be forecast by no known mathematics; the reaction of a billion is something else again. Hari Seldon plotted the social and economic trends of the time, sighted along the curves and foresaw the continuing and accelerating fall of civilization and the gap of thirty thousand years that must elapse before a struggling new Empire could emerge from the ruins. It was too late to stop that fall, but not too late to narrow the gap of barbarism. Seldon established two Foundations at â€Å"opposite ends of the Galaxy† and their location was so designed that in one short millennium events would knit and mesh so as to force out of them a stronger, more permanent, more benevolent Second Empire. Foundation (Gnome Press, 1951) has told the story of one of those Foundations during the first two centuries of life. It began as a settlement of physical scientists on Terminus, a planet at the extreme end of one of the spiral arms of the Galaxy. Separated from the turmoil of the Empire, they worked as compilers of a universal compendium of knowledge, the Encyclopedia Galactica, unaware of the deeper role planned for them by the already-dead Seldon, As the Empire rotted, the outer regions fell into the hands of independent â€Å"kings.† The Foundation was threatened by them. However, by playing one petty ruler against another, under the leadership of their first mayor, Salvor Hardin, they maintained a precarious independence. As sole possessors, of nuclear power among worlds which were losing their sciences and falling back on coal and oil, they even established an ascendancy. The Foundation became the â€Å"religious† center of the neighboring kingdoms. Slowly, the Foundation developed a trading economy as the Encyclopedia receded into the background. Their Traders, dealing in nuclear gadgets which not even the Empire in its heyday could have duplicated for compactness, penetrated hundreds of light-years through the Periphery. Under Hober Mallow, the first of the Foundation's Merchant Princes, they developed the techniques of economic warfare to the point of defeating the Republic of Korell, even though that world was receiving support from one of the outer provinces of what was left of the Empire. At the end of two hundred years, the Foundation was the most powerful state in the Galaxy, except for the remains of the Empire, which, concentrated in the inner third of the Milky Way, still controlled three quarters of the population and wealth of the Universe. It seemed inevitable that the next danger the Foundation would have to face was the final lash of the dying Empire. The way must he cleared for the battle of Foundation and Empire.

Affect and Open Shale Rock Essay Example for Free

Affect and Open Shale Rock Essay ? The past few days in class we have been learning about the process of fracking and how it is either harmful, or useful to our nation. There are numerous arguments for both sides that specify pros and cons for fracking and if fracking should be legal to operate. Fracking is known as hydraulic fracturing with the use of sand, water, and chemicals that are injected at high pressures to blast open shale rock and release the trapped gas inside. The process of fracking starts with drilling a hole deep in the earth’s surface until it reaches natural gas. From there they can start the operation and retrieve the natural gas. Oil and gas companies that use fracking state that it is very safe and does not harm the environment. On the other hand fracking has been reported to cause risks to air, land, water, wildlife, and communities by other sources, rather than the oil and gas companies. According to Josh Fox a journalist who directed â€Å"Gasland† a 2010 documentary found that fracking is making people sick, contaminating water, and affecting wildlife. Yes, fracking can have some positive aspects, but the cons out way the pros drastically. Fracking is bad for our environment and can harm many individuals near fracking sites, or affect their land, and animals. Therefore, regulations and safety should be improved for fracking to stop all the negative aspects from happening, or ban fracking as a whole. Families near fracking zones have terrible headaches and even very serious sicknesses ever since the fracking started. Fracking uses more than 596 chemicals which are released into the ground through a pipe. Drilling can intersect with underground water which would mix the 596 chemicals with that causing contaminated water. Households are affected by this because their water comes out multicolored ranging from musky grey to black. At some Houses Josh Fox visited they were able to set their water on fire. In the documentary he used a lot of emotional appeal to show how hard families are being affected by this tragic event, and shows how tough getting through a day is becoming without getting some type of sickness. Fracking also affects wildlife and land by contaminating water streams and the soil animals live on. In one scene of â€Å"Gasland† Josh Fox went to a ladies house where she had collected dead animals around her land. These animals were not present until the fracking started, and then after that they just started falling dead. There were other cases of people going into streams or even using their own house water that gave them sores, and harsh rashes throughout their body. In the documentary this showed a very effective way of getting people attention and underlining how important this is. In the other documentary â€Å"Fracknation† directed by Phelim McAleer he shows why fracking is important and how it is safe for our environment. The only positive aspect of fracking is it would help our nation out a ton with gas, lower prices drastically, and we would be the leading natural gas supplier in the world. This documentary didn’t really catch my attention that much because why would all these cases of sicknesses and contaminated water pop up right when fracking became big. If fracking became safe and didn’t harm anything in the environment then it would be the greatest idea ever invented. Coming up with new regulations to improve fracking and make it 100 percent safe would be the only reason I would accept the concept of fracking. As of right now fracking is very harmful to many, and the chemicals used are being released in the atmosphere, and in the soil which is contaminating many things and affecting the quality of the air. Fracking is not safe for anyone or anything located near a fracking zone. Affect and Open Shale Rock. (2018, Nov 09).

HR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

HR - Essay Example The company’s structure is clearly shown in the diagram below. The chief executive is at the top of the hierarchy and is in charge of all the operations in the company. Below him in the hierarchy is the management board and the customer and operations executive (British airways Plc.). In the daily operations of the company the chief executive is assisted by the chief financial officer and the leadership team. The members of the leadership include the commercial director, the chief information officer, the director of engineering, director of people and organizational effectiveness, general counsel and director of investments and alliances (British airways Plc.). The company’s SWOT analysis is used to show the company’s strategic positioning in the market and its strengths and weaknesses. The company boasts of having a wide range of strengths making it a market leader in the airline industry in the UK and the global scene. To begin with, the company has a strong brand image that makes it stand out in the market. Secondly, the opensky agreement supports its operations (British airways Plc.). Thirdly, the company has an expansive fleet which translates to a huge customer base. Fourthly, the company has a highly skilled work force that ensures delivery of quality customer service. Finally, the company benefits from economies of scale due to its level of operations and vast market base. On the other hand, the company is faced by various weaknesses including competition in cost as compared to ‘low fare’ airlines (British airways Plc.). Increasing costs of managing operations in various parts of the world, huge debt burdens and unfunded employee post retirement benefits. Other weaknesses include a high number of labor strikes and a powerful labor union. The company can exploit opportunities in various areas. These include emerging markets in Asia Pacific and other parts of the world (British airways Plc.). British Airways faces

Kant's theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Kant's theory - Essay Example Morality is based on this rule since it is a command that applies to every human being. He says that people should be treated as an end, and not as a means. A prohibited action should not be done even if the outcome of the action yields more happiness or satisfaction (Johnson). On the other hand, utilitarianism theories suggest that there is no rule that dictates what is good or bad. The state of affairs is what determines the action to be taken. They argue that an evaluation of the results of an action is more essential than the assessment of the action itself. This means that one is justified to do anything, whether morally rational or not, as far as the action generates more positive consequences than negative (Brown). In an effort to justify his claims for morality and Categorical Imperative, Kant put forward a critique against utilitarianism. He points out that utilitarianism ignores moral obligations and treats them as unnecessary. This can be described using an example. Giving false witness against a criminal would lead to his conviction by the law. If the criminal is jailed, this would mean a better life to the whole public and people will be happy. According to the consequentialists, such an action is justifiable and morally right. According to Kant, the act is morally wrong, even though it has been done to criminal. This shows that utilitarians render some of the moral duties irrelevant. The utilitarians act in a manner to maximize utility or happiness. This means that everybody is morally responsible for whatever they do and should hence act in a way that will increase happiness. According to Kant, this theory is so demanding. It will lead to people putting a lot of efforts just to achieve the end results, and this would mean sacrificing so much; to the extent of sacrificing own happiness in order to please the large number of people. This, in itself is devaluing the persons to whom it is supposed to be

International Trade Ph.D. Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

International Trade Ph.D. - Essay Example Along with specificity, the transaction is time ordered. Each actor involved in the transaction must handle all matters within the time period stipulated within the content of the term or type of payment. In this particular instance, the negotiating process has commenced and the quantity and cost of the items have been identified, therefore the process of tinder of an offer has previously taken place. The process now proceeds to a formal finalization of quantity, type, cost, terms, marks, type of shipment; i.e., free on board, full container load, and whether the buyer will engage an agent; freight forwarder, etc. International transactions contain many pitfalls—make a mistake with customs clearance and the transaction can be subject to delays in payment or wastage of human or financial resources. Sustained international trading success calls for investment in the skills and expertise necessary to master international trade procedures and to get the documents right. (Sitpro).. . Thus, the volume of product marketed is not as important as the consistent product supply. Do not take your foreign responsibilities for granted; lack of service and attention to foreign accounts can cripple your efforts to export. (Exporting) Again, in-house matters must be clear and specific to achieve long-term success. Therefore, ample considerations must be focused on the following items: (1) Management and Personnel---who will be responsible for the exports department'sorganization and staff ---What are management's expectations for the effort ---whatorganizational structure is required to ensure export sales are adequately servicedWho will follow through (2) Production Capacity---how is the present capacity being used ---will filling exportorders hurt domestic sales ---what is the cost of additional production ---are therefluctuations in the annual workload When Where Why ---what minimum orderquantity is required ---what is required to design and package orders for export 3 (2) Financial Capacity---how much capital can be tied up in exports ---what exportoperating cost can be supported ---how will initial expenses of the export effort beallocated ---what other new development plans are in the works that may competewith export plans ---by what date must an effort pay for itself ---is outside capitalnecessary (Susta) Once there is a representative and positive response to the items mentioned above, you are then prepared to approach the specifics of exporting electronic widgets to the targeted company

Dangers of Obesity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Dangers of Obesity - Research Paper Example e quality of life and, ultimately, result to death, but because it has become acceptable due to cultural beliefs and practices that promote excessive/unhealthy food and beverage consumption and sedentary lifestyles. Obesity is more than a physical disorder because it is a product of modern life that is geared towards lack of responsibility for one’s health, a healthcare industry that continues to prioritize treatment of illnesses over prevention, social practices of convenience and sedentary living, and an environment that promotes inactivity and unhealthy consumption beliefs and practices. Obesity is a danger to human life because it leads to the development of various illnesses and social and emotional consequences. Obesity is connected to many illnesses. Robert Sturm compared the effects of obesity, overweight, smoking, and problem drinking on health care use and health status using national survey data. He learned that obesity is highly associated with having chronic medical conditions, lower health-related quality of life, and higher health care and medication spending than smoking or problem drinking (Sturm 249). Viren Swami reviews literature on obesity and notes that, according to numerous studies, obesity is a â€Å"risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, adult-onset diabetes, hypertension, endometrial, ovarian, and breast cancer, and gall bladder disease† (3), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services confirms these risk factors of obesity. Obesity endangers people’s health by leading to both lower duration and quality of life. In ad dition, being obese exposes people to prejudice and discrimination. Rebecca Puhl and Kelly D. Brownell studied discrimination against obese individuals. They learned that discrimination is present in three aspects of society: â€Å"employment, education, and health care† (Puhl and Brownell 788). In particular, some teachers think that being obese is the worst that can happen to people, people are less likely to

Math Report Lab Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Math - Lab Report Example The fact that these environments are less understood drivers the need to use observations, understand them and predict the future. Such efforts mostly involve intuition, but often involving examining existing similarities between them and other known and well understood situations. Mathematical modelling defines the system using mathematical language and concepts to describe its behaviour (Berry and Houston 2-3). The major application is in engineering and natural sciences disciplines, physicists, and computer science among others. Consequently, the use of mathematical models represent crucial elements of the presented system, thus presenting the usable form of knowledge for that system. For instance, modelling â€Å"the greenhouse effect† offers the best way to predict future conditions or situations on earth such as extent of carbon monoxide or temperatures. In this report, mathematical models are used to consume real-world data to formulate models that are analysed real world situations to offer conclusions, which after interpretation offer predictions or explanation for any system (Berry and Houston 3). Furthermore, mathematical models offer a means of solving math problems, and representing the association between any two or more variables and that are fundamental to a given problem or situation. This paper evaluates the concept of mathematical modelling in terms of differential equations. The concept is applicable because the variables analysed in the report are continuous, thus varying subject to other continuous variables. In this case, differential equations offer the rate of change of dependent variables subject to independent ones. Since the system is not limited to having only one independent variable, the mathematical model attained from the hypothesis is that which offers a model in terms of leading or advanced order ordinary differential equations of the system. Furthermore, mathematical models normally define a system that needs to

Epicurus Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Epicurus Paper - Essay Example As a result, these good and bad aspects in life are what contribute to pleasure and pain respectively. Epicurus went ahead to describe what exactly pain and please were in his understanding. He mentioned that a person may decide to choose between pain and pleasure. As a result, if an individual selects pleasure over pain in their lives, then they are prone to endure only the pleasurable things in life. Else, an individual will only endure all the bad and/ or sad events in their lives. It should be noted that Epicurus was advocating for pleasure in both dynamics- that is pleasure in the body as well as the mind together with satiety and freedom from fear of death (Epicurus 128-129). As cited from the Epicurus Reader, pleasure in happiness was all up to the individual. â€Å"Do you want to be happy? Of course you do! Then what’s standing in your way? Your happiness is entirely up to you. This has been revealed to us by a man of divine serenity and wisdom who spent his life amon g us, and showed us, by his personal example and by his teaching, the path to redemption from unhappiness† (Hutchinson, â€Å"Introduction to The Epicurus Reader†). Based on that, he added that the only aspect that could hinder our happiness was based on our feelings. For example, if an individual was extremely nervous or anxious, then their pleasure in happiness would be distorted. Another example that was projected by Epicurus was based on rich people and healthy people. That is, if a rich person gets extremely anxious to be richer, then that individual will lack happiness and pleasure in their life since their mind is optimally focussed on what is not readily available in their lives. In addition to that, if an individual would get anxious about their eating habits as well as their health, then they could as well get sick, all because of what their mind is focussed on. The best advice that Epicurus put forward was that people should enjoy what they currently have and be glad that they do have it. This is due to the fact that there are those who have nothing in their lives and they are extremely happy for whatever little it is that they have – â€Å"You can't be happy in this life if you're worried about the next life... But you can be happy if you believe in the four basic truths of Epicureanism: there are no divine beings which threaten us; there is no next life; what we actually need is easy to get; what makes us suffer is easy to put up with.† As a result, Epicurus terms this as the â€Å"Epicurean remedy† to all the problems that people face in their life (Hutchinson, â€Å"Introduction to The Epicurus Reader†). According to Yapijakis (2009), the same concept of pleasure and pain was also introduced into the field of medicine. This was done by Asclepiades of Bithynia who was an Epicurean doctor and Greek medicine practitioner. For example, for individuals who were insane, Asclepiades of Bithynia proposed that a n atural cure to their illness would be to treat them in a human manner as compared to showing such people acts of suffering and pain by treating them badly. Through such humane acts, insane patients would have the feeling of pleasure and happiness. This methodology by Asclepiades of Bithynia turned out to be a success and a major solution to a number of illnesses, mental illnesses being one of them. As a result, he became one

Toy World, Inc. Case Analysis Essay Example for Free

Toy World, Inc. Case Analysis Essay Executive Summary Toy World, Inc. is a company that has been manufacturing toys for children since 1973. Since 1976, the company has enjoyed profitable operations. At the end of 1993, revenue and profit came close to $8 million and $270 thousand respectively. With Jack McClintock as president and Dan Hoffman as production manager, the two have tried to find a strategy to adjust operations to the volatility of the toy market. Sales in the toy market are seasonal, reaching peaks in the months of August through December, while remaining relatively flat during the remaining months of the year. This seasonality has affected the company’s production schedule. During the off season, inventory is low, skilled workers are underutilized, and machinery is left idle. When the busy season finally arrives, Toy World is forced to hire more workers, pay additional overtime wages, and operate at full capacity. Dan Hoffman sees inefficiencies in this schedule and proposes a level production plan that would eliminate overtime wages and fully utilize skilled workers. Under his plan, toys would be manufactured evenly every month, allowing inventory levels to build in the months leading up to the holidays. In addition to using cash, the company must also take on additional loans to compensate for the high inventory levels. In an industry that has relatively low capital requirements, Hoffman’s strategy may increase overall profitability, but it jeopardizes the company’s liquidity. 1. What factors could Mr. McClintock consider in deciding whether or not to adopt the level production plan? The main factors Mr. McClintock should consider when deciding whether or not to adopt the level production plan comes down to the trade off between liquidity and profitability. Given the  highly seasonal nature of the industry, producing goods ahead of time has strong risks associated with it. If management’s projections are incorrect, the company could incur significant inventory write-downs or write offs. Additionally, the company will incur extra costs of storing the inventory that will accumulate in the first half of the year. Further, Mr. McClintock should analyze the differences in amount and timing of the company’s external funding needs under the level production plan, and whether or not the financing needs can be met by the current credit line of $2 million. To assess the impact of these factors, we prepared pro forma financial statements under level production. 2. What savings would be involved? The savings involved in leveling production include reductions in overtime premiums as well as a decrease in additional labor costs. Expenses involved in this production overhaul include increased shipping and handling expenses and an increase in interest expenses. Both of these expenses are a result of having increased inventory levels. Total savings less total expenses from the new production strategy results in positive net savings of $148,000. See Exhibit E. 3. Prepare the pro forma financial statements and estimate the external funding needs required. Income Statement In preparing monthly statements under the level production plan, several adjustments were made to management’s original projections (Exhibit A). Given the annual savings in overtime premiums as well as direct labor, cost of goods sold under level production would be reduced from a constant 70 percent of sales to 65.1 percent of sales. However, this is slightly offset by the annual increase in storage and handling costs, which is accounted for in operating expenses. To determine the interest income, we multiplied the average monthly cash balance by the 4 percent annualized return provided by management. Income taxes remained at 34 percent, arriving at a total net income of $661 for 1994. Balance Sheet The most significant adjustments made to the balance sheet were under inventory, accrued taxes, and notes payable. As is depicted in Exhibit B, we prepared schedules for both accrued taxes as well as inventory. Management provided a specific tax payment schedule, which was subtracted from each month’s income taxes to arrive at ending accrued taxes. As for inventory, beginning inventory plus finished goods completed less cost of goods sold determined each month’s ending inventory. Under level production, the finished goods completed should be constant month over month. We determined this number by dividing the annual cost of goods sold by 12. Finally, notes payable was our plug figure. As this line item represents the company’s existing credit line, it can be further analyzed to assess the company’s amount of added funds required and the timing of the needs under level production. External Funding Needs Toy World Inc. will require large external funding in order to support inventory levels leading up to the holiday season. Toy World currently has a $2 million line of credit with the bank. In order to support the level production plan, we estimate that Toy World will need a line of credit of close to $4 million in the month of September. 4. Compare the liabilities patterns feasible under the alternative production plans. What implications do their differences have for the risk assumed by the various parties? Under the alternative production plans, the timing and amount of funding that Toy World will need to keep up with inventory projections significantly differs. For example, in June, due to the lags of the 60-day collection periods, strong funding will be needed to keep up with the level production. If management moves forward with the current seasonal production plan, they would not take on the further liabilities and maintain lower cash balances in the busy months of September to December. The most significant tradeoffs of the two scenarios are between liquidity, profitability and leverage. If the toys ended up not being as popular as they forecasted, then the various parties would take on the risk of the rising inventories. Toy world would  then have to decide whether or not to hang onto the excess inventory in anticipation of increased demand, or rid themselves of inventory to increase working capital. Either way, this risk, if came to fruition, would be a lose-lose situation for if they hold onto it and demand doesn’t bounce back, then they lost some working capital, but if demand does bounce back, and they have gotten rid of the inventory, they will find themselves unable to keep up with demand. Also, the industry has relatively no barriers to entry so taking on more debt in this volatile industry to increase inventories would be risky as products have short lives and a relatively high rate of company failures. Sensitivity Analysis Given the inherent risks associated with producing toys significantly ahead of time, we decided to conduct a sensitivity analysis around this factor (Exhibit D). Specifically, we assessed the impact of writing off 10 percent of the prior month’s inventory balance. This change would be reflected as a direct reduction in inventory, as well as a corresponding increase in cost of goods sold, resulting in a 382 percent decrease in net income from seasonal production. While 10 percent of total inventory write downs is an extreme downside situation, the key take away is the importance of how accurate management’s projections are. In a level production plan, management will have to begin producing for peak sales periods early on in the year, greatly increasing the risk of inaccurate projections. Therefore, one of the most critical considerations in adopting level production is the confidence in management’s ability to accurately forecast industry trends. Conclusion Despite past profitability and success, our analysis shows that Toy World, Inc. could benefit greatly from an operational restructuring. Adjusting their business model to implement a level production plan in 1994 as opposed to past seasonal production will result in a positive impact on the company’s profitability. However, in order to implement these changes, Toy World, Inc. will need an extension on their line of credit. Further, our sensitivity analysis shows the importance of having strong confidence in management’s projection ability. If the company believes that their  projections will be accurate enough to avoid significant inventory write offs, and can obtain approval for an extension in the line of credit, transitioning to a level production plan will greatly improve profitability and operational efficiency.

An Infants Innate Proximity Seeking Behaviour Psychology Essay

An Infants Innate Proximity Seeking Behaviour Psychology Essay Bowlbys classical attachment theory (1969/ 1982, 1973) is an ethological theory emphasising the regulatory functions of an infants innate proximity-seeking behaviours directed towards their primary caregiver. Fundamentally, it classifies the infant-caregiver relationship as the foundation of an infants future social development and further ability to form relationships. Bowlby believed that a childs attachment with its caregiver governs the development of internal working models (or mental representations) which the child subsequently applies to relationships with other people and in general, the social world. In turn he proposed that by determining the nature of an infants attachment with their caregiver (considered primarily to be the mother in this case), an infants future social behaviour patterns could be predicted i.e. certain attachment types would lead to certain behaviour types as a result of these internal working models (1973). Attachment types were formally assessed via t he Strange Situation experiment (Ainsworth et al. 1978), out of which three basic types were discerned: the secure and the insecure: anxious/ambivalent and insecure: avoidant. A fourth attachment style insecure: disorganised was later included, encompassing an insecure attachment style which couldnt reliably be characterised as either anxious or avoidant (Van Ijzendoorn et al.; 1999). Attachment theory is intrinsically relevant to psychoanalysis; being characterised as an attempt to update classical psychoanalysis (otherwise lacking empirical evidence; Kihlstrom, 1999), in light of advancements in evolutionary biology and cognition (Ainsworth et al. 1978, Schore Schore, 2008). Fonagy (***) has extensively outlined the commonalties of both; fundamentally, both theoretical perspectives class anxiety as engendered by loss and postulate a non-isomorphic relationship to exist between (mental) representations and their external referents whereby the former moreso reflect the psychic reality from which the latter are perceived. Related to this, Fonagy has likened the internal working models (IWM) of attachment theory to the mental representations (MR) of psychoanalysis, further distinguishing them by highlighting that the IWM are processed implicitly as opposed to explicitly (MR) and are stored in procedural as opposed to episodic memory (MR). Additionally, in both, personality development is conceived as most primarily a function of early social context, where infancy is a potent period of intense growth and the importance of the maternal figure is emphasised. The development of mentalisation (in Fonagys terms) which is akin to a theory of mind, or set of empathic-based processes is also key for growth in both. Finally, both Freud (1895) and Bowlby (1963) emphasised the role of early trauma in later vulnerability to psychopathology. While many are reticent in accepting the implications of attachment theory and the possible anti-therapeutic effects of the labelling ethos it subscribes to (***), its cogency is difficult to deny considering its wide base of empirical support and its enduring legacy. The latter point is fortified by the well-documented recent resurgence of classical attachment theory initiated by the rise of neuroscience (the decade of the brain) and its transformation into modern attachment theory (Slater, 2007) . Specifically, it can be said to underscore the advent of neuropsychoanalysis (a branch of interpersonal neurobiology; Siegal, 2001; Schore Schore, 2008); an assimilation of neuroscientific and psychoanalytic principles. With such links and terms thus established, the ensuing aim of this essay is to outline the modern re-conceptualisation of attachment theory, which draws on neuroscience and forges a link between psychoanalysis and mainstream science. The neurobiological components underlying attachment will be outlined and discussed in relation to affect regulation. The subtext of the essay will be the implicit relevance of psychoanalysis and its use for modern practice which contrapose condemnations of it as being theoretically dead (i.e. Kihlstrom, 1999). According to Whitehead (2006), psychoanalysis has undergone three major revolutions (currently in its third) since its inception, namely the Classical-Freudian, Post-Freudian and the third, currently wheeling, revolution characterised by a return to the project of mind-body integration which Freud abandoned. Indeed, while the likes of Freud eschewed neurological findings from theories of self and personality (vowing to stick with the psychological realm) a number of psychoanalytically minded researchers are reconciling the two to form a field of research coined neuropsychoanalysis (Schore, 2002), which implicitly underlines mind-body integration in accordance with psychoanalytic principles via appeal to attachment theory and neuroscience; undergoing periods of resurgence and dominance, respectively, as of late (Slater, 2007). The advent of neuropsychoanalysis has also coincided with a new appraisal of the problem regarding the interface between outer reality and the inner fantasy wor lds of the individual which Freud found problematic (Whitehead, 2006) reflected in the shift from one-person to two-person psychology (Pulver, 2001) arguably based on the advent and predominance of object relations theory propounded most evidently by Klein and Winnicott. The fundamental point of object relations was an emphasis on the role of interpersonal interactions in the development of personality and mind. The self psychology of Kohut (1957*) is in some ways an offshoot of object relations theory and engenders the most fertile and evident link between psychoanalysis and attachment theory; specifically considering that it has been taken as the basis for many explications of the neurophysiological underpinnings of the attachment process (i.e. Schore Schore, 2002; Shore, 2008; 1994). As explicated by Schore Schore (2002), Kohuts self-psychology concerns itself with four fundamental issues: 1) the emergence of self 2) the structuring of self 3) the genesis of psychopathology as a function of deficits in the structure of self and 4) the manifold manner in which psychotherapy may instigate change in the self. All of such issues have been addressed explicitly via modern attachment theory and its neurobiological underpinnings, the first three of which will be focussed on here. Most significantly, the other is required for the emergence of self (i.e. intersubjectivity engenders subjectivity). For Kohut coupling with the self-object (i.e. the primary caregiver) facilitates affect regulation and the establishment of internal homeostatic equilibrium which precedes (structuring of) burgeoning selfhood. This reflects the aforementioned two-person psychology which characterises the current revolution of psychoanalysis; most apparent in (modern) attachment theory which will subsequently be discussed in greater detail. The main aim of the first year of life is to form an attachment with the primary care-giver which will facilitate subsequent emergence of self and the optimal psychobiological development. To accommodate this is an innate, attachment behavioural system which manifests in a number of instinctual behaviours (or attachment strategies) undertaken by the infant in an attempt to form such an attachment (Siegal, 2001). The primary attachment strategy engaged in by the infant is proximity-seeking; in moments of distress or threat the infants seeks out the primary caregiver as a source of security and comfort (Mikulincer, Sahver and Pereg, 2003). Attachment is achieved, whilst proximate to the caregiver, via inter-subjective interactions (engagement) with the self-object (attachment figure) through affect-laden face to face interactions not strictly limited to visual stimulation (i.e. gaze episodes) but multi-modal (i.e. all senses implicated) emotional transactions. Evidencing the innate ca pacity to engage in such interactions are studies demonstrating infants as young as 12 days old imitating facial expressions (Eltzoff Moore, 1977) and making facial movements in response to communications from the mother expressions which, coupled with those of the mother, assist interpersonal contact and affect regulation (Trevarther, 1985). The sensitivity and responsiveness of the self-object are pivotal for optimal attachment sensitivity inheres that the self-object will recognise when engagement and affect regulation are required (i.e. in times of distress) while responsiveness entails a successful interpretation of social cues, regarding affect, as provided by the infant. The self-object, if sensitive and responsive, may facilitate the minimisation of negative affect and the increase of positive affect, that is, regulation of the infants affect-states a process which gradually become internalised by the infant (Schore Schore, 2008). This occurs as a function of appropriate, consistent responses to such social cues (affect synchrony) permitting the development of mechanisms of anticipation the infant learns of a correspondence between their own actions and the responses of others (and will begin to gauge just how their affects/experiences may be regulated). This in turn facilitates a self-other distinction to be made in which internal working models of the self and the self-object are constructed, engendering processes through which the infant may begin to modify their own behaviour in light of their dyadic interactions with the self-object. As I see it, these processes effectively pre-empt the emergence of subjective consciousness. Particularly, Lipton et al (1999) has associated the development of orbito-frontal systems at this time of development with the infants integration of past, present and future experiences; which permits anticipation of future states of self and reflection on past states. In phenomeno logical terms, this manifests as the emergence of temporality; one of the fundamental tenets and characterisations of intentionality (i.e. consciousness; Husserl, 1952). This may be considered the foundation of the self, corroborating with self-reflexivity (i.e. the establishment of an internal working model of the temporal self) which emerges at this time in line with the above assertions of Liptons. Indeed Slater (2007) has suggested that this marks the beginning of an internalisation of the attachment figure i.e. the accessing of IWM/ MR of the self-object facilitates anticipation of future events and their instantiation of affect regulation. More specifically, as will be discussed, the process of internalising the schematics produced via the dyadic relationship with the self-object become to be gradually subsumed under the rubric of self. That is, the constellation of beliefs structured around representations of self and other bear affect regulation strategies which are elicited in future times of distress. Should such beliefs reflect an unavailability or insufficiency of response from the self-object, secondary attachment strategies are cultivated which manifest attempts at affect regulation other than aforementioned proximity-seeking (Mikulincer et al. 2003). To explicate this point further, comprising the in-born attachment behavioural system (Mikulincer, Sahver and Pereg, 2003) are a number of dynamic processes which govern which set of attachment strategies will be engaged in. These processes comprise of the infants monitoring and appraisal of: a) events (deeming whether or not theyre threatening), b) the availability of the attachment figure and c) the viability of proximity seeking as a means of dealing with a possibly threatening situation. Should an event be appraised as threatening, the infant considers whether or not the attachment figure is available. If the attachment figure is deemed unavailable, secondary attachment strategies classed as deactivating are implemented (characterising the avoidant attachment style). If the attachment figure is deemed available but non-responsive or insufficient in their engagement (i.e. inefficient in their affect regulation), secondary strategies classed as hyper-activating are employed (consti tuting the anxious attachment style). Finally if they are appraised as available and responsive, proximity seeking behaviour is undertaken as already outlined and engagement takes place (secure attachment). According to Dozier and Lee (1995) corresponding to each specific attachment style is a schema for appraisal of ones own self-concept, whereby insecure attachments lead to distortions in such appraisals whilst secure attachments manifest as appraisals of self as worthy and lovable (Schore, 1994) . Namely the avoidant strategies instigate a denial of feelings of distress when they arise while those of the anxious category amplify such feelings. In line with this characterisation it might be suggested that such appraisals lead to re-enforcement of such schemas which consequently persist into later life. Indeed, the continuity of attachment styles, from infancy onwards, according to Mikulincer et al. (2003) is grounded in the inhibitory/excitatory network which accompanies the activation of attachment strategies. Specifically, implementation of hyper-activating strategies acts to increase sensitivity to later threatening event appraisal and evaluation of the availability of the attachment figure, whereby innocuous events are more likely to be deemed threatening and greater attempts to elicit responses from the attachment figure are made. The resultant state of hyperarousal (****) manifests in an over-zealous urgency to be close to the attachment figure. The deactivating strategies on the other hand desensitise the individual to appraising events as threatening and similarly decrease the likelihood of appraisals of the AF as being available. This manifests in a sort of dissociativeness (***); the individual disavows concern as to whether or not a figure is available from which they mi ght garner support and comfort. Due to previous frustration with the stress-response system, arising from it not being adequately handled, the avoidant infant acts to deactivate it altogether (Cassidy Kobak, 1988). Consistent with the neuropsychoanalytic approach; the neurobiological underpinnings of such a system are evident through appeal to the intense synaptic growth (neuron overproduction) experienced in the brain during early infancy (Siegal, 2001). Specifically during the earlier periods of infancy synaptic pruning occurs driven by environmental interaction. In a use it or lose it fashion those connections which are not implemented are pruned away under the guise that they are not needed in the current environment; those that are, are fortified, fine-tuned and maintained. As such it is considered that interpersonal experiences directly shape genetically driven unfolding of the human brain (p72, Siegal, 2001). In this manner it is readily conceivable as to how early interpersonal experiences shape cognitive and affective processes which consequently persist into later periods of life. Schore (1994) has localised processes underlying the attachment process further, namely implicating attachment in the development of the right-brain, the neurobiological core of human consciousness. According to Schore (2001), the right brain dominant in infancy- houses the developing limbic system and remains the hemisphere most dominant for stress response throughout life due to its links to the autonomic nervous system, which regulates the somatic aspects of stressor responses i.e. fight or flight. To this extent, engagement between the infant and caregiver is characterised by a coupling of the AFs right brain with the infants right brain the consequent transactions are non-verbal, affect laden and intrinsically informative of the shaping of the unconscious (Schore Schore, 2008). Psychoanalytic principles are thus represented insomuch that components of the right brain operate at a free-associative, non-verbal and unconscious level (indeed Schore has emphasised that psychotherapy implicitly involves a connecting of clients right brain to therapists right brain) and implicitly exerts influence, as will be outlined presently, on the processes of cognition (Schore Schore, 2008). Indeed, the right hemisphere has been involved in the storage of information pertaining to the emotional ties we have to certain experiences and events (Shuren Grafman, 2002). Accordingly, encountering familiar events leads to a recall of related non-verbal, non-conscious emotional content which further instigate specific reasoning processes which are implemented in the appraisal of such experiences. The link between affect and cognition is well documented and another field of research which modern attachment theory and neuropsychoanalysis forge a mutually-beneficial tie with (Robins Zacks**). Specifically, research from the field of affective cognitive neuroscience has shown that the neural circuits involved in cognition overlap and intertwine with those involved in affect (emotion) (****); as suggested by modern attachment theory. As such, taking this into consideration we can validly assert, through inference, the role attachment strategies/behaviours play on engendering particular patterns of cognition i.e. attachment effects (and affects) cognition (Mikulincer et al. 2003) . Studies by Mikulincer Sheffi (2000) and Pereg (2001) demonstrate, for example, that inducement of negative affect leads to a greater recall of positive thoughts amongst securely attached than those who are anxiously attached, who conversely recall significantly less positive cognitions and significantly greater negative thoughts indicating the amplification of negative affect input and its pervasive effects in the brain suffusing regions of working memory and cognition. Meanwhile, in both studies, cite the authors, those who were avoidant in their attachment styles demonstrated no particular differences in cognitive functioning as a result of positive or negative affect inducement; supporting the hypothesis that those of the avoidant category tend to dismiss and dissociate themselves from sources of distress. To further propound these points, Gillath et al (2005) found that attachment-related anxiety positively correlated with the activation of emotion-implicated areas of the brain and inversely correlated with the activation of areas involved in affect regulation (i.e. the orbito-frontal cortex); paralleling ties between anxious attachment and distress amplification/affect dysregulation (Dozier and Lee, 1995). Furthermore, coinciding with Schores (2002) emphasis on the right brain as centre of self and regulatory/ stress response systems, affective disorders such as depression and dysthymic personality traits have links with the right hemisphere of the brain. Liotti Tucker (1992) for example document that depression interferes with the functions of right hemisphere activity by influencing its arousal mechanisms. Related to this point, a plethora of studies support both Freud and Bowlbys assertions that early insecure attachments increase vulnerability to later psychopathology; specifically whereas the internalisation of affect-regulation schematics conducive to minimisation and manageability of distress occurs in secure attachment, a later to resilience to stressors is observed. Insecure attachments, however, with their accompanying internalised distortion of self-concept and detrimental (under/over) appraisal of threatening events and the disproportioning of the availability of support, lead to a documented increased vulnerability to psychopathology (Schore, 2004*). Indeed, if we consider attachment theory as a theory of affect regulation and affective disorders such as depression as forms of affect dysregulation (Sroufe Waters, 1977) a link between both (attachment styles and psychopathological vulnerability) seems readily tenable. Forbes Dahl (2005), for example, suggest that depression instead of a disorder in which there is an abnormal increase in negative affect; rather is a disorder reflected in the diminished activation of positive affect systems and motivation. This aligns with definitions of its major syndromal-features i.e. anhedonia (diminished capacity for enjoyment), fatigue (diminished motivation) and social withdrawal (diminished enthusiasm). As such we might infer that strategies for minimising negative affect and increasing positive affect (established in infancy) are inefficient in some way. The authors cite many examples of studies which espouse this consideration; for example, adults with MDD have shown diminished response to positive stimuli; in some instances evincing similar responses as if it were aversive. Furthermore, depressive adults have demonstrated lower expectancy of positive events in their futures. Additionally, studies have shown how adults with anxious attachment (hyperactivation strategies); more readily access painful memories, while demonstrating exaggerated appraisal of negative events and are subsequently more vulnerable to depression (Mikulincer and Orbach, 1995). While many may criticise attachment theory as being highly pessimistic derogating the possibilities for a child who happens to present with an insecure attachment style to have a positive future free from psychopathological vulnerability, it is fair to say that it wasnt the intent of Bowlby to delineate such a deterministic perspective. Indeed, as Siegal (2001) points out, the brain is plastic throughout the lifespan and as such attachment capacities can change. Furthermore, positive social factors such as prevailing support of peers may act to alter and/or loosen implicit secondary attachment strategies. Wu (2010) for example has cited that self esteem mediates the relationship between self-concept appraisal and attachment style, therefore social factors which bolster self-esteem might be seen as re-adjusting self-appraisal thereby breaking the re-enforcing patterns of negative self-perception. In addition, while many have emphasised the maternal role in the development of such att achment patterns, others have advised that the infant can develop different attachment styles in accordance to their interactions with different people (Siegal, 2001); as such there are a number of mediating factors which imply that early insecure attachment status to one figure isnt as condemning as oft considered. To conclude: this essay has outlined how classical attachment theory, rooted in psychoanalysis, has been transformed into modern attachment theory coinciding with the recent advent of neuropsychoanalysis; that is, a branch of neuroscience dealing with the interpersonal facilitations of neurobiological development, as advocated by object relations theory and self psychology which are themselves rooted in psychoanalysis. This third revolution of psychoanalysis heralds a return to the problems once confronted by Freud namely the mind/body separation and the interface between inner and external realities, and with attempts to resolve them comes a greater alliance between psychoanalysis and mainstream science. Modern attachment theory as framework for many studies in affect (dys-)regulation have furthermore supported earlier postulations of Bowlbys and Freuds that earlier abnormal development and trauma may predict later vulnerability to psychopathology.

Absence of Absolute Good or Absolute Evil in Hawthornes Young Goodman

Absence of Absolute Good or Absolute Evil in Young Goodman Brown   Ã‚  Ã‚   "'Lo! There ye stand, my children,' said the figure, in a deep and solemn tone, almost sad, with its despairing awfulness, as if his once angelis nature could yet mourn for our miserable race. "Depending on one another's hearts, ye had still hoped, that virtue were not all a dream. Now ye are undeceived! Evil is the nature of mankind. Evil must be your only happiness. Welcome, again, my children, to the communion of your race!'" The above quotation from Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown is of central importance in analyzing the attitudes and ideas present throughout the story, though in a curious way. The quotation (and the story itself), on first reading, seem superficially to portray a central character's loss of faith and the spiritual tragedy contained therein. Rereading, however, reveals a more complex set of ideas, ones which neither fully condemn nor condone the strictly constructed dichotomy of good and evil that Hawthorne employs again and again over the course of Goodman Brown's journey. I think Hawthorne had much more in mind than a mere outline of good and evil. His primary struggle in Young Goodman Brown seems to be less with faith vs. the faithless void than with the points in between these states. The story seems more about the journey through between two rigidly defined states than about good and evil. By describing good and evil through heavy-handed metaphors and symbols, such as his wife's name and the satanic communion he finds himself at in the forest, and then describing goodman Brown's inability to adapt his self-image to the hypocrisy he finds, Hawthorne comments on the ultimate failure of such a rigidly proscribed formula for... ... these two states than it is about a definitive statement on outlining a definition of "proper" human behavior. Works Cited Capps,   Jack L.   "Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown", Explicator, Washington D.C., 1982 Spring,   40:3, 25. Easterly, Joan Elizabeth.   "Lachrymal Imagery in Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown", Studies in Short Fiction, Newberry, S.C.,   1991 Summer,   28:3, 339-43. Hawthorne, Nathaniel.   "Young Goodmam Brown", The Story and Its Writer, 4th ed. Ed. Ann Charters. Boston: Bedford Books of St. Martin's Press, 1995, 595-604. Shear, Walter.   "Cultural Fate and Social Freedom in Three American Short Stories",   Studies in Short Fiction, Newberry, S.C.,   1992 Fall, 29:4, 543-549. Tritt, Michael.   "Young Goodman Brown and the Psychology of Projection",   Studies in Short Fiction, Newberry, S.C., 1986 Winter, 23:1, 113-117.         

Early Colonial Settlements :: American America History

Early Colonial Settlements In the early seventeen hundreds, after the establishment of both New England and the Chesapeake, many similarities and differences arose between the two settlements. Some of the similarities and differences included such things as family life, economy, life expectancy, and society. In the Chesapeake area, the life expectancy and general healthiness of the settlers was dangerously low. Diseases like malaria, typhoid, and dysentery had a deadly effect on the inhabitants of the area, cutting 10 years off the life expectancy. Family life in the Chesapeake was also a problem. Women were very scarce which made a strong family life almost impossible. Unmarried pregnancies were everywhere and marriages did not usually last for very long due to a death of one of the partners. This lifestyle was greatly contrasted in the area of New England. New Englanders enjoyed clean water and moderate temperatures that slowed the spread of diseases among the people. The people of New England actually had a life expectancy of ten years more than that of a person living in England. Also, in New England the family life was very strong and important. Women usually wed by their twenties and had around ten children, with about eight of those that would survive. Another contrast in the lifestyle of the New Englanders to that of those in the Chesapeake was that women in the south would usually acquire land from their husbands after they died. In New England, however, the women would give up their property rights at marriage because widowhood was much less common and also because it did not promote the unity of marriage. One common point between the two civilizations was the very prominent class distinctions. In both areas settlers also fought to restructure these systems. Rebellions such as Bacon's 1676 rebellion in Virginia, and Leisler 1689 to 1691 rebellion in New York were due to the settler's unhappiness with the social class distinctions. Another similarity was that of relatively cheap and wages which almost tripled that of the English. Unity in New England was something that was not commonly found in the Chesapeake. New England's puritan ways easily molded this tightly knight colony. In the Chesapeake this was not the case. Farmers were more of loners who did not move or live in very close communities. New England grew in a more organized way, unlike the Chesapeake that was very spontaneous in its growth. Early Colonial Settlements :: American America History Early Colonial Settlements In the early seventeen hundreds, after the establishment of both New England and the Chesapeake, many similarities and differences arose between the two settlements. Some of the similarities and differences included such things as family life, economy, life expectancy, and society. In the Chesapeake area, the life expectancy and general healthiness of the settlers was dangerously low. Diseases like malaria, typhoid, and dysentery had a deadly effect on the inhabitants of the area, cutting 10 years off the life expectancy. Family life in the Chesapeake was also a problem. Women were very scarce which made a strong family life almost impossible. Unmarried pregnancies were everywhere and marriages did not usually last for very long due to a death of one of the partners. This lifestyle was greatly contrasted in the area of New England. New Englanders enjoyed clean water and moderate temperatures that slowed the spread of diseases among the people. The people of New England actually had a life expectancy of ten years more than that of a person living in England. Also, in New England the family life was very strong and important. Women usually wed by their twenties and had around ten children, with about eight of those that would survive. Another contrast in the lifestyle of the New Englanders to that of those in the Chesapeake was that women in the south would usually acquire land from their husbands after they died. In New England, however, the women would give up their property rights at marriage because widowhood was much less common and also because it did not promote the unity of marriage. One common point between the two civilizations was the very prominent class distinctions. In both areas settlers also fought to restructure these systems. Rebellions such as Bacon's 1676 rebellion in Virginia, and Leisler 1689 to 1691 rebellion in New York were due to the settler's unhappiness with the social class distinctions. Another similarity was that of relatively cheap and wages which almost tripled that of the English. Unity in New England was something that was not commonly found in the Chesapeake. New England's puritan ways easily molded this tightly knight colony. In the Chesapeake this was not the case. Farmers were more of loners who did not move or live in very close communities. New England grew in a more organized way, unlike the Chesapeake that was very spontaneous in its growth.

Graduation Speech -- Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

Henry Adams once wrote "A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." This is so true, every teacher here has taught us much more than the textbook curriculum. Every teacher here tonight has given us students something we will use or remember for the rest of our lives. I really don't think people understand or appreciate the time and effort our teachers have put into us. So tonight I'm not going to give everyone advice on the future, I'm not going to tell you how life is a journey we've just begun, and I'm not going to brag about how great the class of 2006 is. Since we have eight outstanding Valedictorians this year, I'm sure all of those bases are already covered. So instead, I'm going to take a few minutes here to thank some of the teachers and staff that have made a difference in my own life, and by doing so I hope that everybody present tonight will see how important each and every teacher and staff member is at Amos High School. I'd like to start out by thanking Mr. Addington. Not only is he the Clay and Ceramics teacher at AHS, he is the wisest man I know. I have asked him so many questions this year, and he has always helped me figure things out, but instead of letting me be lazy and simply telling me his answers, he asks me the questions and makes me think it out. Mr. Bassett is the smartest man I know. He keeps the entire school district's computer network up and running, he created a computer program that lets kids and parents check their grades from their home computers, as well as another program that he sold to the government. While doing all this, he still made extra time to help me survive his Windows 2000 class since I hadn't taken the required prerequisites and was pretty lost. Mr.... ...already talked about, and the ones that I did not get a change to mention, but I don't have time. Parents and people of the community, please see what great people these teachers are, and remember how much of their lives they give freely to their students. Teachers, whether you know it or not, you have affected each of us so much. The people that I have talked about are only teachers on my own list of important people at Amos High School. Every single student in a cap and gown right now has their own list, every one of you has impacted someone's life, and we will never forget you. Without your time and effort, none of us would be where we are today, and none of us would have been the leaders that we will turn out to be. You have made our experience at Amos High School truly great, and it will be hard to say goodbye, but from the graduating class of 2006, thank you.

When Politics Trumps Policy

While the public demand for the criminal justice system to help ensure a safe and secure environment, there are also occasions whereby the public may feel that the criminal justice agencies are actually the one posing unnecessary threats to the society. Issues like the abuse of authority, deadly vehicle pursuits and unauthorized use of weapons are all examples of cases in which the criminal justice system is actually threatening the safety of the public. This paper will discuss the case of Racin’ Ray’s Wild Day to examine the issues involved in the decisions made by Ripley as a law enforcing authority. Central Issues The central issue in the case study would be the authority of the police officers to use excessive force as well as to engage in violent pursuits. Due to a previous incident of a violent pursuit ending with the death of a 14 year old teenager, the Pineville County Sheriff’s Department is currently facing a lawsuit. As such, the Department has implemented stricter rules and regulations to prevent such accidents from happening again. However, another key issue which has cropped up would be that of the behavior of Deputy Raymond Ray Ripley who has been observed to be overstepping regulations as well as engaging in activities that are not part of his responsibilities such as to go for extra patrol as well as to engage in the violent pursuit of a vehicle that was not warranted since rules have been implemented to prohibit any pursuit which does not involve any violent felony crime or pose significant threat to the community. In addition, he is also using weapons which he does not have the authority to use (Peak, 2010). Use-of-force policy Ripley’s actions is not compliant with the use of force policy which states that â€Å"a supervisor [should] cancel any pursuit that does not involve a violent felony crime or other circumstances that would justify the danger and potential liability† . In addition, â€Å"A separate policy prohibits the firing of warning shots unless â€Å"circumstances warrant. †Ã¢â‚¬  (Peak, 2010). In the given case, Ripley had no evidence to demonstrate that the vehicle he was chasing was involved in any violent felony crime or circumstances that would pose extreme danger. In addition he used his fired warning shots even though the circumstances were not yet dangerous. As such, he was clearly violating the use-of-force policy. End Ripley’s pursuit The lieutenant should end Ripley’s pursuit. Firstly, this is because Ripley has already overstepped the policies implemented by the Department, as such there is a possibility that he would further abuse his power to bring about unnecessary harm to others. In addition, the Department is already involved in a current legal tussle. Should any mistakes go wrong with this one, the consequence would be especially dire and people would lose confidence in the criminal justice agency. Firing warning shots The deputy should have fired the warning shot. The department has already informed officers that no warning shots should be fired unless circumstances warrant. In this case, the officer was following normal regulations of being at least 30 meters away from the vehicle. In addition, he has proof to show that the circumstances warrant his actions since the driver was speeding towards him and thus the warning shot was fired to save his life. Lodging a complaint In the event that the people in the vehicle lodge a complaint about Ripley and his use of the force, the dog and the taser gun, there are various departmental policies which would need to be applied. First, it is necessary to record down all the processes involved during the whole incident including when , how and why the deputy came across the vehicle, fired the warning shots and gave chase to the vehicle. Given that there is evidence to sufficient to show that the deputy did abuse his authority such as to own a Taser gun and to use a dog, appropriate disciplinary actions would need to be taken to hold the deputy accountable for his actions. However, the head of the department will need to deliberate and take into account the factors affecting the situation and the decision-making of the deputy behind implementing the most appropriate form of punishment (Davis). Additional policies Given that the misconduct of the deputy has been identified, it is important that the department implement policies to ensure that similar acts do not occur again. Hence, this would involve programs like training as well as frequent audits to ensure that officers do not engage in behaviors that involve the abuse of their authority. In addition, the department should also set up a program to monitor the progress of those who have previously engaged in misconduct before to ensure that they are competent enough for their work. Conclusion In conclusion, the case of Ripley demonstrates the serious consequences of the abuse of authority by law enforcing officials. Therefore, it is necessary for criminal justice agencies to implement the appropriate strategies and programs to ensure that similar incidents do not occur again. ? Reference Davis, J. (n. d. ). Police Misconduct and Civil Rights Law. Retrieved from http://library. findlaw. com/1999/Nov/1/126320. html †¢Peak, K. (2010). Justice administration: police, courts, and corrections management (6th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ. Pearson/Prentice Hall.

A Look At Greek Lyric Poetry And John Cage Essay

Music goes beyond language barriers; it speaks no language but that of the heart. However, like all art forms it has tenets and principles as to what is good music and what is simply noise. How about when artists claim that their works are music when it seems that these are perceived to be avant garde, not the kind of music that dominates the cultural period and worse, does not come from tradition? This paper seeks to take a look at the music in Hellenistic Greece, in particular a lyric by one of its known muses, Sappho, with her only surviving complete work, Ode to Aphrodite, and compare it with what is considered to be experimental composition from John Cage, his 4’33†. Both pieces were meant to be performed – although how these are performed also raised questions. Ancient Greece is revered to be a center of learning, where arts and culture flourished. It was one of the places where the earliest treatises on the different art forms were written, and they were keen to what constituted good and bad art, giving raise even to debates as to what is the function of art. Plato was known to promote the arts that will inspire people’s thinking, not their emotions, for he considered human emotions a weakness, and also because during that time musical scales developed from the study of the harmony in the universe, the mathematical equations used by the Pythagoreans (Henderson, 1957). It was because of this that he did not approve of the poets’ lyrics, because it deviated from the musical modes they were used to and relied on what sounded good to the ear, making music became accessible to the people (Anderson, 1966). Sappho was one of those poets whose lyric poetry when sung communicated the love and sensuality it contained, as with her work Ode to Aphrodite, deviating from their traditionally highly mathematically composed melodies where people were supposed to be quiet and listen to rigidly, for her lyric love poems were made to be felt and inspire emotion. In this way, Sappho, and her contemporary poets at the time helped create a turn for Greek music. Like Sappho, John Cage contributed to music with his compositions, characterized as avant-garde especially his chance pieces. However, his work that challenged perceptions and definition of music is his notorious 4’33†, a piece where for four minutes and thirty-three seconds the orchestra plays nothing. John Cage wrote this piece when he realized that there will always be sound, and deliberately wrote â€Å"Tacet†, to instruct the musician not to play. What Cage wanted for the audience to hear was the different sounds that occur during the interval the piece is played – all the various sounds that one does not pay attention to because they listen to something else. This is different from silence, unless the figuratively the sound of silence, since Cage’s point was that there is always sound if one listens intently (Cage, 1973). Both Sappho and Cage’s music differed from one another in that Sappho was expressing herself through her poetry, while Cage was making the listener turn to his environment. Although created in different environment and cultures, both musical pieces can be interpreted in a personal way, making it a unique experience. Sappho’s Ode to Aphrodite can mean something else to a modern listener than it used to in ancient Greece, and of course Cage’s 4’33† would always conjure something unique for each individual. What this shows us is that although music is made in a certain era, it can transcend the boundaries of time as long as it resonates with what is human and universal, as an appreciation for the sounds around us and those that speak of love, and that although music is governed by principles of what makes it good, it will always be a matter of personal experience. SOURCES: Anderson, W. (1966). Ethos and Education in Greek Music. Cambridge, HUP. Cage, John. (1973). Silence: Lectures and Writings, Wesleyan Paperback. Henderson, Isobel (1957). â€Å"Ancient Greek Music† in The New Oxford History of Music, vol. 1: Ancient and Oriental Music,† Oxford, Oxford University Press. http://homoecumenicus. com/ioannidis_ancient_greek_texts. htm, Accessed on June, 15, 2009. http://www. greylodge. org/occultreview/glor_013/433. htm , Accessed on June 15, 2009.

Policy Development Essay

Domestic violence can be described as any form of deliberate coercion, bodily harm, sexual assault, or any other form of violent behavior committed by an intimate partner. Domestic violence has plagued all walks of life despite the age, race, religion, or background. Violence against an intimate partner is frequently followed by psychological abuse and controlling behavior relating to the methodical blueprint of power and control. Domestic violence comes in many forms but not always seen by the naked eye. Domestic violence constitutes forms of physical abuse, psychological abuse or even death that can be seen by other family members possibly causing a continuous cycle of abuse for generations to come. Facts and Statistics It is hard to grasp the notion that somewhere in the world every nine seconds a woman is being beaten or assaulted. On average, 85% of victims of domestic violence are women and 1 in every three women will endure some form of domestic violence in their natural life. Sadly enough only one fourth of all victims who have been physically assaulted by an intimate partner will actually report it to the police, implying that official statistics will never justify the full scope of the problem. The average age of a female victim who is at the greatest risk of harm by an intimate partner is between 20 to 24 years old. Domestic violence is the primary source of harm to a woman over all other possible harmful circumstances she will encounter. As if domestic violence isn’t already difficult enough for women to endure in an intimate relationship, if she has a male child who witnesses these assaults he is now two times more likely to abuse his partner or children as an adult passing along the cycle of abuse for our future. Statistics have shown that 30% to 60% of intimate partners who assault also assault their children. Intimate partner homicides that are reported to police make up  approximately one third of female homicide victims and 70% to 80% of those victims had a previous assault history. A very small amount of victims actually seek medical treatment after an assault but yet a vastly larger number of approximately 18.5 million victims seek mental health treatment following an assault. Separation isn’t always the ultimate solution to the problem. Over 70% of women who were injured during a domestic violence assault were assaulted after the separation (Safehorizon,  2014). Stakeholders Law Enforcement Often time’s victimization in cases of domestic violence is conducted behind closed doors causing law enforcement to become the first line of defense for victims of domestic violence. If the response of the police is extremely insufficient it has a negative impact on the victim making them less likely to use the criminal justice system in the future. There are typically three types of police responses to domestic violence: non-intervention, mediation, and arrest. The initial typical police response to domestic violence was the non-intervention way as police felt that domestic violence was a private matter best kept at home. The second approach is mediation which promotes crisis intervention including separating both parties, reconciliation, or social services referral. This method was designed to keep domestic violence out of the criminal justice system however, it proved to be ineffective. Now a more practiced policy to domestic violence is the arrest of an offender as a pres umed or mandatory response. Domestic violence cases are different in the sense that the offender can be taken into custody under a warrantless arrest as these types of misdemeanors do not have to occur in the officer’s presence. Legal changes have been made where officers now arrest the primary aggressor instead of the old dual arrest practices affecting the victim more than the offender. It has been shown that an officer is more often than not the victim’s last resort to alleviate the problem as they typically chose other routes as to not affect their livelihood. In all domestic violence situations officers shall make an arrest when an offense of violence has been presented, treat these acts of domestic violence as criminal, never disregard protection against domestic violence based upon race, religion, sexual orientation, immediately report  all cases of family violence, and receive training on domestic violence required by law (Erez,  2002). Due to the fact that domestic violence affects a large number of people, it is plausible to say that leaving the abuser is not as easy as people may think which would ultimately stop the abuse. Since this is true, law enforcement must approach domestic violence as serious as they approach any other significant crime by providing time, resources and attention. Given that law enforcement is spending a ton of time focusing on domestic violence, it is important for these agencies to establish a domestic violence policy that indicates reports will be completed on each domestic violence call regardless of whether or not an arrest was made. The most significant and respected service a law enforcement officer can provide to a victim is an arrest of their abuser (Klein,  2009). Prosecutors Prosecutors play a very important role in the prosecution of abusers within the criminal justice system in hopes of providing harsh judgments preventing reoffending and better protection of victims. If prosecutors fail to prosecute the bulk of domestic violence cases conducted by law enforcement an internal examination into their practices, policies, and priorities should be conducted providing an explanation as to why fewer prosecutions are being processed. They should not allow victims who are unwilling to prosecute their abuser stop them from proceeding on with the case. If a vast number of victims are willing to sign an affidavit of non prosecution, it is certain that prosecutors and law enforcement must come up with a better a way for victims to trust them so more cases are prosecuted. For prosecutors to gain a more successful prosecution rate, they must enhance victim cooperation and involvement by concentrating on the victim’s fears of being abused again or testifying i n court without fear of retaliation. In the event that a defendant possesses serious risk to the victim during trial, prosecutors must take all measures to protect the victim to effectively prosecute the case. It has been insisted upon by the judge that prosecutors report to the court any defendant’s negative actions such as reoffending, threatening or intimidating the victim so that potentially other charges can be added while the original case is still pending. While still being compassionate towards the victim, prosecution must base it case  on the law and penalties of the law versus the individual preferences of the victim as they tend to become more lenient during the course of the trial fearing retaliation in the future. Prosecution must also notify the defendant of this process so they don’t believe this is based upon the victim’s requests. Prosecutors must work hand in hand with law enforcement to obtain all the evidence associated with the case as well as identify and include all witnesses involved. Domestic violence can be deterred if prosecution sufficiently concentrates on the abuser risk by inflicting harsh sentences such as supervised probation and incarceration while revealing the defendants prior criminal and abuse history in hopes to prevent reoffending (Klein,  2009). The ideals that lawmakers had on prosecution or adjudication for domestic violence is consequently not being enforced. Legal representatives may become doubtful about the irregularity of violent behavior, or disbelieve the seriousness of the complainants, can either enforce the law firmly for prosecution purposes, or at the same time be understanding of the physical aggression that could be considered efficient punishment for the victim’s marital infidelity. Legal representatives are prone to characterize domestic violence as a civil matter for a ruling in divorce courts versus criminal courts. The prosecution and adjudication phases are substantial for offenders ultimately deciding their guilt or innocence, establishing a criminal record and providing a punishment. These phases are significant for the victim as well as they begin to trust the criminal justice system again (Erez,  2002). Judges Judges can ultimately be the final step in the adjudication process of domestic violence abusers so their role is extremely crucial in the protection of the victim. Merely handing down a guilty verdict does not guarantee reoffending of the abuser so judges should concentrate more on invasive sentences that include incarceration especially for those who are repeat offenders and those with an extensive criminal history. Even though judges should be open-minded when it comes to the views of the victims regarding punishment, he must enlighten all parties involved that he is compelled to hand out the most appropriate sentence pertaining to this case regardless of whether or not the victim agrees. Regardless whether the  defendant turns himself into the court for a domestic violence case, he should be treated as seriously as the offender arrested on scene as it has been shown that the typical offender flees the scene of the incident prior to officer’s arrival where a warrant is la ter issued for their arrest. Judges should hand down sentences that reflect the offender’s prior criminal history as those are signs of possible reoffending regardless if it reflects prior domestic violence offenses. In the event a defendant offends while pending another court case for domestic violence, judges may take that into account for purposes of bail, civil orders, and sentencing. Affidavits filled out by the victim don’t fully describe the abuse suffered by the victim or the fear of future abuse as this document is solely based upon the incident at hand. It is extremely valuable for the judge to further investigate this case by asking the victim more questions as well as examining the prior arrest history of the offender to have a better grasp on the whole picture relating to the abuse. Judges may issue protective orders to the victim but unfortunately this is only a strong piece of paper and it does not prevent abusers from reoffending. Judges should make every effort to house a user friendly courtroom, safe environment for all parties involved, be compassionate to the victims, and yet stern with defendants once some sort of abuse has been brought forward. When judges are able to represent the courtroom in this manner victims concerns are validated and the defendant’s behavior is shown to be unacceptable (Klein,  2009). Public Opinion Most people are in agreement that someone should step in when an abusive domestic violence situation arises, but they don’t agree on what their involvement should be, or the responsibility of the victim to reduce the violence by removing themselves from the abusive relationship. Even though people have the same opinion about domestic violence being a criminal act, they are not essentially on the same page that police should regularly arrest the offender or use other corrective authority versus using other alternatives. This apparent apprehension may be the outcome of people’s uncertainty concerning the applications of criminal sanctions. One theory is they believe offenders warrant the penalty of arrest or jail, yet another theory is they are often practical about the efficiency of the punishment  actually putting a stop to the aggressive actions or the probability the penalty will ultimately protect the victim. A more promising effect is possibly that of rehabilitation and victim or community focused changes. Nonetheless, such changes like offender treatments, education, and victims ultimately leaving the relationship continue to be a rare result (Carlson,  2002). Reform Recent reform within the prosecution and adjudication process of domestic violence includes the issuance of protective order as well as special legal defenses for battered women who have killed their abuser. At one time civil protection orders were only obtainable through a pending divorce, recently they have been pushed through legislation for battered women who are not currently involved in a divorce proceeding. The main objective of domestic violence reform has been aimed at the prosecution process as it has been found that too many cases, misdemeanors, were falling out of the criminal justice process during different stages. Through the years, domestic violence has become one of the most talked about policies and is in constant reform as ideals are continuously changing. Historically very little action by the police and prosecutors has been done regarding domestic violence and without a more serious offense, prior record of offender, possible weapon use, injuries, or physical evi dence most cases won’t see the inside of a courtroom. The most effective way to present a domestic violence case before the court is to have the victim’s cooperation but yet most prosecutors predict that victims will sign an affidavit of non prosecution ultimately dismissing the case altogether typically causing prosecutors to hesitate before filling a case. Prosecution efforts should be based upon the victim’s safety not the conviction of the offender. It should also be an approach to getting the word out to the offender that the abuse is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Prosecutors have recently found a way to prosecute domestic violence offenses even when the complainant does not want to pursue charges. They have implemented victim advocacy programs within the prosecutor’s office in hopes to boost victim retention within the process. Another approach is the evidence based prosecution, which is the idea of gathering all significant evidence to build a case against an  offender without the victim. Many peo ple believe these practices take away from the victim’s freedoms of determining their course of action (Erez,  2002). Another reform is that of the battered woman syndrome which has been employed in hopes of fixing past practices of disregarding the difficulty battered women face when she wants to defend herself in court, or the necessity to apply principals of law, or self defense that were not particularly appropriate for issues relating to abuse. This tactic has been used as a legal defense for women who battered or killed their abuser after they have suffered many years of abuse and responded by causing harm or death to them. Often times these cases are from battered women who harm their abuser without first being irritated due to the psychological state of mind the victim has suffered for many years (Erez,  2002). Domestic violence has plagued all walks of life despite the age, race, religion, or background. Without the constant fight by all stakeholders within the criminal justice system for the victims of domestic violence, no real solution to the problem can come of this resolve. Constant and continuous reform is necessary to maintain the safety and security of all victims preserving their trust with the criminal justice system.  

Hope vs Hope

Jovon Abriam American Literature Mr. Taube March 6, 2013 Hope Vs. Hope It’s a plane! It’s a bird! Yes, it actually is a bird. The poem â€Å"Hope† is the thing with feathers, is a 19th century poem written by Emily Dickinson and the movie The Shawshank Redemption, written and directed by Frank Durabont, both use a bird as a major symbol to hope. The Shawshank Redemption use the characters Jack, Andy and Red to make connections to hope, while â€Å"Hope† is the thing with feathers really has no characters that make connections to hope. Hope† is the thing with feathers is a poem about how hope never dies and will get you through rough times. The Shawshank Redemption is a movie based in the 1940’s how hope can either be corrupt or the best thing in life. The Shawshank Redemption and â€Å"Hope† is the thing with feathers are similar because of the symbolism and the central theme in both works, but what makes them different is the connectio ns the characters has to hope and the different type of media used.When juxtaposing the two works, you will find that there are a few similarities between the two. In, â€Å"Hope† is the thing with feathers (which is the first line in the poem) and The Shawshank Redemption, they both use birds as the symbol of hope. Saying that â€Å"Hope† is the thing with feathers is basically referring to a bird and in The Shawshank Redemption, the bird symbolizes hope because when Jake gives up his bird, he loses hope and ends up killing himself. Hope does not only play as the symbol in both works, but also as the central theme in the two.In the poem, Emily Dickinson is saying that if you have hope, it can get you through hard times and she uses a gale and a storm to symbolize the hard times. In The Shawshank Redemption, having hope will lead to you accomplishing your greatest desires. On the other hand, there are a few differences between The Shawshank Redemption and â€Å"Hopeâ €  is the thing with feathers. One of the differences between the two is that obviously one is a movie and the other is a poem.Another thing different between the two is the way the characters have a connection to hope. In â€Å"Hope† is the thing with feathers, there is no character that really makes a connection to hope, unlike The Shawshank Redemption which uses Andy, Red and Jack to make connections to hope. While, â€Å"Hope† is the thing with feathers says that the bird is the one that produces music, the bird in The Shawshank Redemption does not make music, instead it is Andy that plays the music on the prison speakers.The Shawshank Redemption and â€Å"Hope† is the thing with feathers are both so similar, but so different at the same time. These two works share many things in common like using the bird as the symbol of hope, as well as hope being the central theme. However, they are different because the type of media and the characters’ connec tion that the have to hope. Even though a 19th century poem and a 20th century movie may seem like they may have many differences, they actually can share a few things in common.

Comprehensive Examination Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Comprehensive Examination - Research Paper Example This is achieved through good leadership which is aimed at promoting a positive culture within a learning institution. Being elected as a leader of a school that is experiencing a problem of a negative culture and rigidity to change, there is dire need to develop actions for change. This paper presents a report on ways through which the problems faced by the school can be dealt with through cultivation of positive change among teachers, students, administrators, parents and the community. The report includes supporting literature, a research approach and recommendations for change upon which actions for change are based. Objectives 1. To provide supporting literature on problems in learning institutions, the underlying theories and effective measures for change 2. To investigate the actual problem within the institution as a basis for designing relevant measures for change 3. To develop a school improvement program that will develop a change of culture within the institution 4. ... Resistance to change in schools is effectively dealt with through proper leadership. Additionally, all stakeholders of an educational institution must be involved in implementing the change. Rigidity to change, toxic environments and negative culture are the major problems that schools face (Taj & Iqbal, 2012; Ansell, Reckhow & Kelly, 2009). Therefore change can only be achieved if these problems are solved. More specifically problems such as lack of proper communication, poor student behaviors and lack of support from parents and the community are more challenging to schools because they derail the achievement of objectives and goals. For this reason it is argued that parents and the community at large should be involved in promoting good behavior among learners so that they would be more focused on their educational goals. The cultivation of good behavior among students is achieved through guidance and support from the family, teachers and the community (Rhodes & Brundrett, 2009). This prevents problems among students such as early pregnancy, drug use and abuse and school dropouts. When such problems are characteristic of a learning institution they must be addressed as top priority because they are major contributors of a toxic environment within the institution. It is through change that problems within schools such as lack of effective and well-designed student programs can be solved (Caldwell, 2008). Positive change within schools also contributes to the prevention of low performance among learners (Payne, 2007; Law, Walker & Dimmock, 2007). Moreover, it is argued that the ability of teachers, students, parents and school administrators to implement change and a positive culture determines the overall performance of